Jabberwocky wrote:I always thought it was the electricity, friction if you will, between Perry, Schon, and Cain is what created the "magic." They might have even hated the sight of one another, but lock 'em in a room and alchemy happened. Maybe that's what it took back then... a concentrated effort to focus on music and leave personal issues on the other side of the door. Too bad whatever happened broke down the door and became the elephant in the room.
Could very well be. I remember Schon commenting on a statement Perry made to him one day in the studio (he may have stated it during the BTM rockumentary) when he arrived at the studio a bit hung over and Perry said something like, "I can see I'm not going to get anything out of you today." Neal went in and gave the song the guitar solo it needed...first time. Obviously between those guys it was a real love/hate thing.
As far as Herbie's claims w/no repercussions, perhaps Perry doesn't care one way or another what he says. Or maybe he'd rather not let ANYthing get to him as he's enjoying being out of the spotlight now, so he ignores it.
Could be, but I'm not of that opinion at all.
I believe he feels the same way about Journey... when a lot of people speak of Journey, they automatically think of Perry, regardless of what he's been doing for the last decade. His legacy is written, he doesn't need to shout it from the rooftops. He can mosey off and do whatever it is he wants to do. By all accounts, that's what he's been doing... living the quiet life away from the road and being an average joe. Maybe reliving past glories by doing stuff in the studio and such but he's even said how hard it was, emotionally, to do the live DVD. I think he just doesn't want the stress anymore and only does what he thinks he can handle.
I would agree that he probably does not want the day-to-day stress of touring and meeting people's expectations.
Why he left... I didn't go back and read all the replies here, so forgive me if it's already been said. But maybe... though most of us would never want to believe it... maybe he just couldn't hack it anymore. The "hip thing" could have been a cover for "nervous breakdown." Or "rehab and therapy." Or "can't hit the same range and don't wanna admit it." Or he did have hip surgery... he made a comment about being a titanium boy now, something to that effect. I personally think, hip problem or not, he went through some major personal introspection around that time and decided he was better off mentally, emotionally, and physically by leaving.
I don't think it was a nervous breakdown. If he really had no hip problem, then he simply didn't want to tour. If he did have a hip problem, he probably still didn't to tour because it was over two years before the band went on without him that they waited and he showed no real sign of moving any closer to a decision. If it was me, I would have seen two or three of finest surgeons around and at the very least gone into physical therapy.
I was responding to the original poster who believes that the band's going on was a "HUGE mistake" to quote her and that Steve was the "star" of the show. The reality is that had the band waited for Steve, I believe they would still be waiting. While that's fine for some, I like much of the music that's been produced since Journey has reformed. Unfortunately, success is often measured in numbers rather than personal achievement. If we do that, then we need to apply the same measurement to Steve and his solo career.
Just like many independent movies never get seen by the vast majority of people who go the theaters, many are often very well done movies. Yet, if we look just at numbers, then those independent movie producers have not achieved any real "success." This really isn't the case though.
If Journey feels they are continuing to be successful, then that's all that matters. Likewise, if Steve Perry felt his solo career was successful, then that's all that matters. He would not have had any solo career had it not been for people like Neal Schon and Jon Cain who helped write material and provided a truly artistic musical backdrop that allowed Perry to truly soar as lead vocalist.
It was in the newspaper. I do know how to read. 
